Method for obtaining chlorine



- Oct. 12, 1943. w. c. LEETE 2,331,402

w, METHOD 0F OBTAINING cHLoRINB Filed Nov. 28, 1939 ft-gz INVENTORH//LL/AM C. .5575 BY cva. 7'

ATTO NEYS Patented Oct. 12, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to a method for obtaining chlorine from anaqueous solu common salts, sucl'i as sodium chloride, calcium cli ori Anobject of the invention is to provide a method for this purpose, whichmay be carried out by the employment of apparatus of simple, relativelycheap, construction, and which may be of portable character so as to beeasily transported from place to place for functioning as a chlorinatingapparatus. In this manner it may be used for treating contaminated watersupplies, flooded areas, Washing water for dairies, etc.

The principle underlying the present process is derived from the factthat a solution of chloride salt when suspended in air in a highlydivided will upon passing through the state, as in a qdisgtive spar of ahigh tension electrical disc arg become decom o 'ssociate orliberatinthe chlorine therefrom as The chlorine t used directly forchlorinating purposes or led into containers for storage,

Referring to the drawing, which show a. preferred arrangement of theapparatus,

Fig. 1 is a view of the entire apparatus in somewhat diagrammatic formso as to display all parts of the apparatus clearly; and

Fig, 2 is a detailed and somewhat enlarged view, and in section, of theelectric discharge device.

Referring to the drawing in detail; I indicates a supporting frame uponwhich all parts of the apparatus may be suitably mounted. On a lowerpartition 2 of this frame is mounted a power unit which may be anelectric motor 3. an air receiver tank 4, and an electrical transformer5 from which the high tension current is obtained for the electricaldischarge device hereinafter described. In the embodiment shown theprimary current for the transformer 5 and the current gior operating themotor 3, is obtainedfromany Isuitable outside source. For situationswhere such c'minb'tavailable the apparatus may comprise an internalcombustion engine power unit and magneto or other suitable appurtenancesfor generating the high tension current for the electric dischargedevice.

Mounted on the upper shelf 6 of the supporting frame is a suitable aircompressor l, atomizing tank 3 closed on all sides except for the pipeconnections thereto as Shown, and an electric discharge device 9. A beltI with pulleys II and I2 serve as driving connections between motor 3and air compressor 1.

An air conducting pipe I3 leads from the air compressor 'I to one end ofthe air receiver tank 4 as shown. This tank will also be suitablyprovided with an air pressure indicator thereon as at I 4, the pressuretherein during operation being normally maintained within the range of 5to 10 pounds above atmosphere. The atomizing chamber 8 has screwed intoits top wall a four-branch pipe-fitting I5 and also screwed into itsbottom wall a four-branch pipe-fitting I6. A gauge glass tube I'I isprovided to show the level of liquid within the atomizing chamber 8 andthe upper branch I8 of said gauge glass tube is connected to the leftside of the pipe-fitting I5 and the lower branch I9 of said gauge glasstube is connected to the left side of the pipe-fitting 6. A filling capis provided on the upper branch I8 whereby liquid may be introducedtherethrough and into said atomizing chamber 8.

The upper end of the pipe-fitting I5 is closed by a plug 2l throughwhich two holes are bored, one to receive a relatively small diameterair tube 22 and the other to receive a similarly smallsized liquid tube23, said tubes 22 and 23 being extended down through the pipe-fitting I5in spaced relation from the sides thereof and joined together in anatomizing nozzle 24 at the lower end thereof. As shown, the atomizingnozzle 24 is positioned in the upper part of the chamber 8 so as to beabove the level of liquid contained therein, said level being indicatedby dotted line 42. An air conducting pipe 25 leads from one end of theair chamber 4 upwardly for connection with said atomizing air pipe 22. Asafety air valve 26 is connected in said pipe 25 and is preferablyadjusted to release air therefrom at about fteen pounds pressure. Theright hand side of the lower pipe-fitting I6 connects with a liquidconducting pipe 21 which leads through a sediment collecting chamber orcleaner 29 and upwardly for connection with the liquid conductingatomizing pipe 23. A drain valve 28 is provided in the lower part ofsaid pipe 21, to drain liquid from the system when desired. The righthand side of the upper pipe-fitting I5 is connected to a mist conductingpipe 30 which leads into the electric discharge device 9.

As shown in Fig. 2, the casing for the electric discharge device 9 hasupper and lower vertical openings 3| and 32 and right and left sidehorizontal openings 33 and 34. In said horizontal openings 33 and 34 aremounted spark plugs 35 and 3B, each having a single electrode 31 and 38respectively which are suitably insulated and spaced apart to provide aspark gap across which a flaming electrical discharge is created by thehigh tension current of the transformer 5. The high tension currentwires from the transformer to the separated electrodes 31 and 38 areindicated at 42 and 43. for said high tension current is 10,000 volts.The upper opening 3l of the casing 9 is closed by a bushing 39 throughwhich extends the aforesaid pipe 30 and the lower end of said pipe 30 ispreferably flattened into elongated shape with its longer axis parallelto that of the electrodes 31 and 3B. In this manner themist of saltsolutiQn is. blown across the disruptivelsparkoithe electrcaldischargewith a maximum of contact therebetween.

The lower-opening 32 of said electrical discharge device 5 is connectedwith a T-pipe-iitting 40 mounted on the upper shelf 6 of the supportingframe l. The lower branch of said pipefitting 40 serves as collegtipgchamber for the solid residues which result fr'maic'eltricalewchlorinvgas' which is liberated byt'-lctrical discharge passes out thelateral branch 4| of said pipe-fitting 40, to which may be connected anysuitable dispensing hose for leading the chlorine gas to storagecontainers or for use in chlorinating.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: There is first introducedthrough the lling cap 20 and into the atomizing chamber 8 an aqueoussolution of the chloride salt (salt water for instance), and the chamber8 is only partially filled therewith, as indicated by dotted line 42.The transformer 5 is switched on to create an electrical dischargeacross the electrodes 31 and 38 of said electrical discharge device. Themotor 3 having been set in operation, drives the compressor 1 to createpressure of air within the tank 4 and air under pressure is ledtherefrom up pipe 25 and through the air tube 22 and out the atomizernozzle 24. This entrance of air under pressure into the atomizer chamber8 forces liquid solution therefrom out the bottom of the chamber throughpipe 21, cleaner 29, and upwardly to the liquid tube 23 for introducingliquid solution to said atomizer nozzle 24 within the upper portion ofsaid chamber 8, this action being completed by the suction effect of airpassing through the nozzle 24. The nozzle 24 combines the air in tube 22with liquid solution coming through tube 23 and atomizes the liquid fromthe latter into a mist which collects in the upper portion of saidchamber 8. This mist is under pressure due to the incoming air from airtube 22 and consequently passes ourl from the chamber 8, through thespace surrounding the pipes 22 and 23 through pipe 30 and down throughthe electrical discharge device 9. As the mist leaves the end of pipe 30it is spread out into a wide thin sheet by the flattened end of saidpipe and ows through the discharge across said electrodes 31 and 38, theaction of which Ais to decompose the mist and liberate the chlorinetherefrom. 'Ihe liberated chlorine passes A suitable working voltage outas a. gas mixed with air, through the pipe 4l and the solid products ofsaid decomposition will collect in the bottom of said T-pipe-ttlng 40 asabove described.

The action of the electrical discharge upon said mist not only liberatesthe chlorine as described but also ozonizes the air in which said mistis suspended, whereby the gas obtained at the outlet 4I will havesterilizing properties of very high degree.

I claim:

1. The method of obtaining chlorine which consists in taking an aqueoussolution of a chloride salt, converting the same into a vapor or mist,blowing said vapor or mist in a confined passage through the gap betweenthe spaced terminals of a sparking device while producing a disruptivespark across said terminals from a high tension alternating currentsupply whereby chlorine gas is separated from said vapor or mist.

2. The method of obtaining chlorine which consists in taking an aqueoussolution of a chloride salt, converting the same into a vapor or mist,blowing said vapor or mist in a confined passage through the gap betweenthe spaced terminals of a sparking device while producing a disruptivespark between said terminals from a high tension alternating currentsupply whereby chlorine gas is separated from said vapor or mist, andconducting said separately recovered chlorine gas away from said connedpassage.

3. The method of obtaining chlorine which consists in taking an aqueoussolution of a chloride salt, atomizing the same with compressed air intoa vapor or mist, discharging said vapor or mist under pressure in aconfined passage through the gap betwen the spaced terminals of asparking device while producing a disruptive spark across said terminalsfrom a high tension alternating current supply whereby chlorine gas isseparated from said vapor or mist.

4. The method of obtaining chlorine which consists in taking an aqueoussolution of a chloride salt, atomizing the same with compressed air intoa vapor or mist, discharging said vapor or mist under pressure in aconiined passage through the gap between the spaced terminals ofx asparking device while producing a disruptive spark across said terminalsfrom a high tension alternating current supply whereby chlorine gas isseparated from said vapor or mist, and conducting said separatelyrecovered chlorine gas away from said confined passage.

5. The method of obtaining chlorine which consists in taking an aqueoussolution of a chloride salt, converting the same into a vapor or mist,blowing said vapor or mist in the form of a thin flat sheet extendedacross the gap between the spaced terminals of a sparking device whileproducing a disruptive spark across said terminals from a high tensionalternating current sup ply whereby chlorine gas is separated from saidvapor or mist.

WDJLIAM C. LEETE.

